Music and Art (The Redemption)
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2011
1
9
13
Trip End
Aug 31, 2011
Where I stayed
City Center Apartments
Kiev, Misto Kyyiv, Ukraine
Saturday, August 27, 2011
2 of the dreams stand out particularly and 1, I don't think I will ever forget. In fact, during my trip, many of my friends have suggested that I may be reliving some past life experiences, if only emotionally. At this point in my journey, due to the amazingly deep emotions i have experienced, I dare agree, and I would venture to say that something very unpleasant might have happened to one of my incarnations, in Kiev. Basically, because, although Kiev is quite pretty and interesting on its face, I have found it very uncomfortable, no matter what I have tried to do, I have found it difficult to enjoy myself here. In fact there are only a few places in this huge city where I can stop shaking and feel "normal" at all.
So, at 12:00 precisely, the girl from the rental agency came by, to get my keys and call me a cab to the main train station, where I had planned to check-in my suitcase until I needed it later. She was very kind, as was the driver, and I had no trouble finding the bag check because I had scoped it out correctly the day before!! The line was short and although the attendant spoke absolutely no English, he was kind enough to make stick figures and a drawing of a clock on a piece of paper, indicating when I should come back, how much to pay and where to go. So far, today was already an improvement. Too bad it was going to be my last day!!
After I checked in my bag, I continued on my way, following a plan I had made the night before to go back to the "Art Colony" I had found so comforting before. All the way there, however, I was still shaking from the images and content of my previous night's dream, trying to make sense of it in my mind and what, if any, is the connection to my bad experience here and now!! Moreover, how can I make a positive memory out of this leg of my trip?
It was a long walk to "Andre's Descent, and at one part, I crossed in front of the former KGB headquarters, the ugly feelings I already had inside, reaching a disturbing peak at the same moment I was square in front of the giant, imposing building. It was then that the idea of the dream connecting Kiev to a past life experience rang true. Once this realization became clear, I began to feel a bit of hope that I could somehow detach myself from this discomfort. I began to tell my self things like..."It happened a long time ago," "It's over now!" I also invoked the assistance of the "Archangels Michael and Rafael, (the protector and peacemaker) at the suggestion of one of my more psychically inclined friends. They seemed to be by my side within a split second and I felt much better.
Nearly at the same moment that I reached the St. Michael's monastery (dedicated to the very archangel of whom I have mentioned above) the shaking in my hands and stomach finally stopped. I was also near a grand park and away from the disturbing traffic and inner city stress that had bothered me so very much.
So, I strolled around a bit in this very soothing area, allowing myself to ponder the many brides and grooms in the area, taking pictures for their wedding memories, before moving along to the giant Cathedral that marks the beginning of "Andre's Descent," into my beloved artists' neighborhood. Today it was filled with color and music!! Artists were everywhere and music was permeating the air!!! I made my way, very slowly, through the many booths and tables that line this steep, stone street, feeling better and better, my bad dreams fading, as I made my descent to the lovely Dnipro River below.
I took a long time, walking along the river, enjoying the sun and I felt happy that I had found a way to leave Kiev on a "high note." I enjoyed the many boats, cruising along the river and the beachgoers on the opposite shore, until I made my way to a suspension footbridge that crossed over the mighty river below, allowing me a fantastic view of both, old and new Kiev.
After crossing the bridge, both ways, I continued on my riverside walk, eventually coming to the metro station. I had heard that the metro stations here were supposed to be "works of art" and I was feeling confident that I knew the right way to go to reach "Arsenal Station"...the world's deepest metro!! Aside from the grand Domed ceilings and the very depth of the station, I didn't find it a particular work of art, but it WAS deep, taking nearly 30 minutes to reach the surface by escalator.
At his time, feeling like I had redeemed my experience in Kiev and made a positive experience out of such a negative one, I had just enough time to take one last awe inspiring trip through the "Lavra and its 'Cathedral city". The acres of golden domed church tops and the lovely grounds were the perfect place to end my tour of this, beautiful but very difficult and frustrating city.
Then, with a satisfied feeling, I hailed a taxi, direct to the train station, avoiding another walk through the "scary, 'Street of Dead Dogs' area," that bothered me so much, earlier in the week.
Once at the station, I found a place to hang out, making a decision that I would only uncheck my suitcase when I saw my train number listed on the screen. The station is actually huge, with 2 terminals, connected by an overpass, filled with shops and restaurants. in addition, there are several "luxury" waiting areas, with sofas and and comfortable padded chairs, available for a fee. I also found rentable "hotel" space in which you could rent a bed for the night or even a few hours. As I had a few hours to wait, I considered it, but I changed my mind when I found out that it wouldn't be private, choosing to "people watch" instead. I also took about an hour of internet time to search my emails and Skype chat with some friends.
I think it was around 10:00p.m. when I saw my train listed on the main board. For the final confusion in Kiev, the overpass crosses tracks numbered 2-14. I had told myself that it would be so typical of my time here if my train came to track 1 or 15, which, of course, it did!! Looking for the illusive track 1, I came across another dude in the same predicament (hopelessly lost and non-Ukrainian speaking) and together, combining our different languages, neither Ukranian, we found the train with relative ease.
Once on the train, I found my cabin, with the typical 2 beds, settled in and relaxed until the man arrived who was to share my space. He never spoke a word as he listened to his iPod and drifted off to sleep. At the time that the train pulled out of the station, I also slowly drifted off, lulled by the gentle rocking and humming of the car as it rolled along the tracks.
